The Bishop’s Wife (Linda Wallheim Mystery, #1)(74)

“Don’t get that look on your face, Mom,” he said.

“What look?”

“The grieving parent of a wayward child look,” said Kenneth.

I put a hand on his arm. “Kenneth, there are many paths to truth,” I said.

“You mean, so long as I stay in the church,” he said sourly.

I looked around. I knew this was not the right place for us to have this discussion. I kept thinking that Kurt would be coming by, or that someone else in the ward would overhear something and pass it around. “Kenneth, I love you. Just as you are, even your doubting parts.”

He cleared his throat and I had no idea if I had said the right thing or not. “Well, I have to go. I’ve got to get back to work.”

“Sure,” I said. “I’ll see you later.” He managed a series of laundromats, and Kurt had always thought he could do better, another source of tension between the two of them. But I was so glad he had come to be with me for just this moment, and I couldn’t help but reflect on how people are always surprising us. Carrie Helm must have surprised her parents, but in the end, they had loved her and given this beautiful funeral service for her. We can’t make our children do anything, but we can always love them.

After Kenneth left, I went into the kitchen to help Cheri Tate with serving the luncheon—the least I could do, since I hadn’t helped with anything else.

“So here we are again.” How many funerals had she done this for? And how many weddings? “You’ve had a lot to do the last couple of months.”

“You can say that again,” she said wearily. “I think I’m going to need a vacation from all callings when I’m finished with this one. If I ever finish with this one.” She eyed me speculatively.

“You don’t think the blessings far outweigh all the responsibilities?” Wasn’t that what everyone said?

“Blessings don’t give me more time. And I need sleep,” said Cheri. She said it with a smile, as if it was a joke, but I thought maybe it wasn’t.

It might be wise for me to talk to Kurt about it, but I had no doubt what he would say. That Cheri Tate did not have to do everything herself. She needed to learn to let go and delegate and accept that what other people did was their best, and what was good enough for God should be good enough for her.

Four hours later, on a final pass through the chapel, Cheri found something near the podium and brought it to me.

“I think this must be Carrie’s mother’s,” she said.

It was the photo of Carrie at her high school graduation.

“Do you think you could get it back to her? I’d hate to just put this in lost and found.”

“Of course,” I said. I had the Westons’ address at home. I would send it to her in the mail, or possibly drive by next week to return it to her.

But as I walked home with the frame under my arm, it occurred to me that Judy might have left it on purpose. Did she hope that someone would give it to Kelly? I walked by the Helm house, thinking there was no way Jared or Alex would allow it in their home. I could sneak it into Kelly’s bedroom, perhaps if I had a smaller copy of it. There were no other photographs of Carrie in the house, as I well knew.

When I got home, it was past time to start dinner, but Kurt and Samuel could fend for themselves. I needed to get out of the house to feel like I was doing something to help this terrible tragedy. I drove to a nearby copy store and got a small color copy of the photo, then went back over to the Helm house. I was feeling more stubborn than courageous. And I kept thinking about Kenneth and his strange conversation with me after the funeral. Had Carrie left her family because she had decided that they couldn’t love her the way she really was? Had she been trying to leave the Mormon church, as well?

The news vans were gone now, though I still felt strangely watched as I walked to the door and rang the bell. I wanted to see Kelly and make sure she was all right. If I did end up testifying for the Westons at the custody trial, I might not have many more chances.

Alex Helm answered the door—of course.

“I wanted to come by and see how you are doing,” I said. “I didn’t make it to the graveside service and I’m sorry. I was busy helping with the funeral luncheon.”

“It was very brief,” said Alex. “Your husband said a few words and that was all.”

I nodded. “How is Kelly?”

“She’s a strong little personality. She’ll move on with her life as soon as she can. I don’t know if you heard, but we had news late last night that the police have decided to drop the charges against Jared. Without Carrie to explain how she got the bruises, which were not Jared’s doing, by the way, they have no real evidence against him and are finally admitting it. We are considering a lawsuit against the city for harassment, but it may be best to let it go.”

“Yes, an eye for an eye only makes everyone blind,” I said blandly. But my heart sank at the thought that Jared would get away with what he had done. What message would that send to Kelly about justice?

“I told Jared that Kelly needs a mother, and that is his next responsibility. He needs to find a woman who is more appropriate who can take over the role and make Kelly forget that all of this happened.”

I struggled not to goggle at him. “So soon?” I got out. Carrie had only been dead for a little over a week. And he thought Kelly should forget her mother?